It’s been two years since my multiple myeloma diagnosis and the begin­ning of this journey. So much has happened since then.

When you watch events day-to-day, it’s easy to miss their significance – even in the case of big events. Given more perspective, however, the chal­lenges and changes become more clear, and I now recognize the many new begin­nings I’ve en­countered in my myeloma life.

In one of my pre­vious columns, I wrote about the challenging months fol­low­ing my initial diagnosis, when I faced debilitating fear and anxiety. I don’t know …

“Did your other doctor talk to you about your cytogenetics?” My current doctor, a myeloma specialist, asked me this while giving me a second opinion on my diag­nosis.

It was the first time I’d ever heard the term cytogenetics. My doctor ex­plained that I had a “del17” chromosomal ab­nor­mal­ity, which made my dis­ease “high risk” and poten­tially more aggressive than that of the majority of other multiple myeloma patients. Two years later, I under­stand this concept better, but occa­sionally my gut reverts back to that day and I become frightened that being …

“Is there anyone alive out there?”

The call from the darkened stage is met with a cheer from the crowd.

The call is repeated with greater passion, “Is there anyone really alive out there?”

A thunderous roar erupts, the stage lights rise, and Bruce Springsteen lifts a hand to greet the assembled masses.

While Bruce’s customary concert rallying cry energizes his fans, it is also a promise to be fulfilled that night. A Springsteen concert is part rock show, part revival meeting, part philosophy class, and always a shot of adrenaline. Live …

I received an autologous stem cell trans­plant in July 2016. I chronicled the day-to-day progress of my trans­plant in the Beacon’s forums, so I won’t repeat that account here. Instead, I’ll share some of my general thoughts and feel­ings about the process.

My stem cell transplant was performed outpatient, but because we live over an hour away from the clinic, we relocated to apartments reserved for transplant patients. While I didn’t like being away from home, this arrange­ment was a …

We are in the holiday season and recently enjoyed our annual prompt to be thankful for all the joys in our life. As a multiple myeloma patient, it’s a good reminder for me to appreciate all the people that help me fight this disease.

I discovered with my diagnosis that it’s easy to become self-centered. What is happening to my body? What treatments do I need? When are my ap­point­ments? How does my health impact my schedule and obligations? For the most part, I think this is understandable, natural, and unavoidable. Even …

At the end of my previous column, I explained that the title of my column, “A North­west Lens On Myeloma,” refers to where I live – the U.S. Northwest – and one of the passions in my life: photography.

I started seriously shooting photographs in 2009. By 2011, I was printing the best of my work and showing it regularly at regional art shows – first for judged prizes, and then for sale to the public.

Unfortunately, my myeloma diagnosis in 2015 significantly cut into my ability to participate in art …

I’m Mark Pouley, and I’m excited to join the Myeloma Beacon as a regular columnist.

I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in the spring of 2015. I’ve experi­enced a lot in the last year, learned a lot, and changed a lot. Along the way, The Beacon became an important part of my mental and physical recovery.

I’m writing this column to pay it forward by sharing my myeloma journey. The one lesson I’ve learned since my diag­nosis that stands above them all is that myeloma is part of my life, …